ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. — The Bard College men's soccer team (5-4, 0-2 Liberty League) fell just short of a comeback against the Ithaca Bombers (5-3, 1-1) on Saturday afternoon.

The first half score by Ithaca came in the 8th minute, setting the tone for the match. Jack Carney won a one on one against Will Beane-Rosenberg, sending the ball to the lower right corner of the goal, giving an early lead to Ithaca.

The Raptors showed it was anybody's game, and they fought hard in their attempt to take it. Bard had opportunities to tie it in the first half off of the pressure of Mateo Betelu, who had four shots with two of them coming on goal. 

Bard led the possession battle in the first half, 53% to 47%. 

The Raptors came out of the locker room with an optimistic attitude, led by Cole Ewalt, who rallied the bench on the sideline.

When second half action started play, Julian Landau replaced Beane-Rosenberg in goal. After 11 minutes passed, the Raptor offense ramped up, creating five shots in five minutes starting at the 56th minute. The pressure built up like a rubber band stretched to its limit, finally snapping at the 62:36 mark, when Kevin McDonough scored the equalizer. McDonough took a brilliant pass from Zac Sparacio, who sent the ball flying over the Bombers' heads well beyond the halfway line. The new substitute, McDonough, used his quick feet to run past two Ithaca defenders and find the soft spot in the defense, sending the ball over the Bombers' goalkeeper.

Jared Krasnove of Ithaca scored the eventual deciding goal at the 66th minute, taking the shot from the left side of the box, sending it past the outstretched arms of Landau.
Landau and Beane-Rosenberg each ended with two saves in 45 minutes of play.

Bard will have its Kick it Pink game that supports the Miles of Hope Breast Cancer Foundation on Wednesday at 7 p.m. when they take on Vassar.